BIOGRAPHY

Rawan Albutairi | CEO, Saudi Esports Federation 

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In her role, she leads the federation's strategic direction, overseeing its mission to position Saudi Arabia as a global esports hub in line with the National Gaming and Esports Strategy. She is responsible for driving the federation's growth, forging partnerships with international governing bodies and entities, and ensuring the successful delivery of tournaments and collaborations that advance the Kingdom's standing on the global esports stage.

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Rawan joined the Saudi Esports Federation in February 2023, where she most recently served as Chief of Partnerships and Corporate Affairs before her appointment as CEO. In this role, she managed relationships between the federation and entities abroad, including international governing bodies, working to achieve the vision for Saudi Arabia's National Gaming and Esports Strategy through collaborations and tournaments.

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Prior to SEF, she was a Senior Advisor and Program Manager for the Communications & Technology Commission, based in Riyadh, for a period of two years. Rawan began there after a Saudi Aramco secondment at the Ministry of Finance from 2019 until the start of 2021. She was selected for this as one of just two professionals within the entire Saudi Aramco organization, comprising more than 60,000 employees, to support the Saudi Presidency of the G20.

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She worked for Saudi Aramco from 2013-2019 in Dhahran as a Team Lead in the Planning, Performance Management & Capital Division, heading a cross-functional committee that analyzed 15 capital projects comprising $3 billion. Before this she worked for Saudi Hollandi Bank in Khobar as a Relationship Manager with the Institutional Banking Group for three years.

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Rawan received the distinguished honor of being chosen as part of the first cohort of the Misk (Mohammed Bin Salman Foundation) Leaders 2030 Program. She also participated in Mosaic, a leadership program founded by HRH Prince of Wales, from which she is a member of the class of 2015, and is the co-founder and vice president of entrepreneurial platform MUBADARA GCC.

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Rawan plays a prominent role in social citizenship and leadership and has been involved with the World Economic Forum – Global Shapers Community since 2013. She served as the first Global Shaper and Curator of the Al Khobar hub and championed key social and community initiatives.

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The Saudi national is a native Arabic speaker, is fluent in English, and speaks functional Spanish.

Rawan has an MBA from IESE Business School in Barcelona, from which she graduated in 2018, and a Bachelor of Science, Finance degree (with Honors) from the University of Maine, awarded in 2010.